noun
cur
kur
noun
1
A mongrel or low-quality dog, especially one seen as vicious or worthless.
"A scrawny cur followed them, barking at every passerby."
2
An insult for a cowardly or contemptible person.
""You cur!" he shouted at the man who had betrayed them."
How to Use Cur
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old-fashioned put-down for a mongrel dog, or, by extension, a despicable person.
When to use it
Old-fashioned and mostly literary now — you're more likely to meet it in a period novel than everyday speech.
Word Forms
curs plural
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A scrawny _____ followed them, barking at every passerby.
Etymology
From Middle English curre, probably related to Old Norse kurr, "grumbling" — likely imitating a dog's growl.